Dumaguete turns over Cittadini school facilities to DepEd

By Roi Lomotan

Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo (front) and DepEd- 7 Regional Director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez (2nd row, 2nd from right) inspect one of the classrooms inside the former Cittadini School. (RAL/PIA7-NegOr)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The Dumaguete City local government has turned over the facilities of the former Cittadini School to the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 7, which will soon be used by students and faculty of the City Central Elementary School and Calindagan Elementary School. 

Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo said the classrooms, halls, and courts will provide a conducive learning atmosphere for students and a suitable venue for their extra-curricular activities. 

Remollo announced in May that the Ursuline Sisters of  Somasca, a congregation of nuns operating the former Catherina Cittadini School, agreed to sell the entire 1.8 hectare property in Barangay Calindagan to the city government for P175 million payable in installment basis. 

City Public Information Officer Katherine Aguilar said the Somascan sisters decided to sell their property because they trust the current administration will continue their legacy and mission of educating young people. 

The mayor said the city government’s purchase of the property is timely because they are looking for a relocation site for the City Central Elementary School (CCES). 

CCES is currently located at the City Hall compound, which is not a suitable place for a campus. 

Remollo added that the city government also decided to relocate the students of Calindagan Elementary School (CLES), which is the nearest public elementary school in the area. 

The turnover of the facilities to DepEd-7 on June 6 was attended by Remollo, DepEd7 regional director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, vice mayor Maisa Sagarbarria, and city administrator Lilani Ramon. 

DepEd7 will occupy the facility on a usufruct agreement with the city. 

Jimenez thanked the city government as the current location of CCES is no longer conducive for learning due to congested traffic and the number of people passing by the school to transact at the City Hall. 

Staying at the current location would also result in limiting the number of enrollees since DepEd can no longer build additional classrooms in the area. 

“We see to it that the basic education that has been produced by DepEd shall also be of quality. We can only have quality if all other components are present and one of them is a conducive learning place and away from disturbance. I see and observe that this Cittadini School which will become a public school soon is a place to be,” Jimenez said.

The facilities inside the former Cittadini School include dozens of standard size classrooms, a gymnasium, laboratories, cafeterias, chapel, road network with adequate parking space, playground, grotto, among others. 

Remollo also reiterated the city government’s commitment to provide adequate learning facilities to the students.

“Whatever you need, we have a buffer of P3 million that would have been used to refurbish Calindagan Elementary School can now be used to do some connective works or do whatever you see fit to be done in this facility,” Remollo said. 

The mayor also instructed the City Engineer’s Office to provide three access gates on the western side of the campus facing the Dumaguete City National High School to accommodate the students and teachers while avoiding traffic congestion at the national highway.

Both Jimenez and Remollo assured that the classrooms will be ready before the start of classes in July. 

4Ps beneficiary in Negros Oriental fulfills dream of becoming a public school teacher

By Jennifer Catan-Tilos

Sahara Torres currently works as a teacher at the San Jose Provincial High School in San Jose, Negros Oriental. (PIA Negros Oriental/photo by DSWD)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Sahara Torres comes from an impoverished family in the town of San Jose. Her parents, George and Lelita, sell fruits and vegetables in their local market. George is also a farmer who cultivates various crops and raises livestock.

Sahara is the eldest of five children. With her parents’ meager income, their family struggled to make ends meet on a daily basis. Their family’s earnings could not sustain their daily needs, such as food, clothing, and education.

Amid their economic hardship, Sahara’s family displayed resilience and determination to uplift themselves from poverty.

Both George and Lelita did not finish their elementary education. They are keenly aware of the lack of  job opportunities faced by those with low educational attainment. The couple did their best to ensure their children would have access to education.

“Miski lisud among panginabuhi, wala gyud mi gipaundang og eskwela sa among mga ginikanan. Kabalo sila unsay kalisud kung wala kay nahuman ug dili ka makakuha og nindot nga trabaho o panginabuhian,” said Sahara.

(Despite the hardships, our parents did their best to send us to school. They know life would be difficult if you do not have education and you cannot acquire a rewarding job or livelihood.

Cash grants under 4Ps

In 2011, the Torres family became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

4Ps is the national government’s poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program.

Sahara’s family started receiving the cash grants under 4Ps, which aims to help beneficiaries attain self-sufficiency.

“The assistance we received had not only alleviated our financial burdens but also been instrumental in fostering positive changes in various aspects of our lives,” she said.

Meanwhile, George and Lelita alternately attended the monthly Family Development Session (FDS), offering a platform for learning and growth beyond financial aid.

The monthly sessions have enhanced their decision-making capabilities, introduced them to child-rearing and discipline techniques, family planning, and even providing valuable insights into organic farming practices.

As a 4Ps household beneficiary, the Torres family recognized the program’s holistic approach to addressing the many faces of poverty.

Scholarship

When Sahara graduated high school, she availed of the Expanded Student’s Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA), which allowed her to enroll at the Negros Oriental State University under the Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English.

ESGP-PA provides opportunities to children of 4Ps families who are determined to pursue a college education.

“Ni-take gyud ko ato nga examination tungod sa dakong paglaum nga makapadayon ko eskwela og college. Bahala na lisud ang exam, nag-ampo nalang ko sa Diyos nga makapasar unta ko isip birthday gift sa akoa,” shared Sahara.

(I took the examination because of high hopes that I can pursue my college education. The examination was difficult, and I just prayed to God that I would be able to pass it as a birthday gift.)

Sahara eventually graduated from college. She doubled her efforts and worked as a part-time instructor in one of the private schools in the city during the day, and as a customer service representative in a business process outsourcing company at night.

In the middle of all that, Sahara was also determined to pursue her teaching career, so she took the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).

Her prayers did not go in vain. In 2022, Sahara ranked top two among the registered qualified applicants who took the LET. She was hired as Teacher 1 at San Jose Provincial High School in her hometown.

“Ang kalisod dili babag sa kalamboan, ang edukasyon maoy yawi sa kalamboan,” said Sahara.

(Poverty is not the hindrance to success, but education is the key to success.)

Validation

DSWD regularly revalidates 4Ps beneficiaries using the Social Welfare and Development Indicators (SWDI) to determine their level of living conditions. The levels include Level 1 or survival, Level 2 or subsistence, and Level 3 or self-sufficient.

DSWD provincial link Reggie Locsin said the results of the revalidation will serve as a reference if they get to stay or exit in the program.

Based on the SWDI, the Torres family’s overall prosperity is positioned at Level 3, underscoring their self-sufficiency as reflected in the assessment result. This means the Torres family has demonstrated strong economic standing, indicating their ability to meet their basic needs and maintain financial stability.

This achievement is a result of their successful efforts in achieving a balanced livelihood with careful financial management, supported by incomes generated from agriculture and Sahara’s salary as a public teacher.

Sahara is now enrolled in a Master of Arts Major in Educational Management program. At the same time, she is supporting her younger siblings in college, namely Dondee, a first-year Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology Major in Electrical Technology, and Aiza, a graduating midwifery student.

The remaining siblings are still in high school: Christian, a Grade 10 student, and Jon Cris, a Grade 9 student.

Sahara’s ability to make informed choices sets an inspiring example for her siblings, students, and all 4Ps student beneficiaries. (With reports from DSWD7)

Declaration of ‘stable internal peace and security’ in Negros Oriental pushed

By Jenifer Catan-Tilos

302nd Infantry Brigade commander BGen Joey Escanillas (3rd from left)of the Philippine Army reiterates to call on remaining communist rebels to surrender in a Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting on March 6 in Dumaguete City. With him (l-r) PCol. Ronan Claravall, provincial director of the Philippine National Police; Farah Gentuya, provincial director of DOLG; and LtCol. Evelio C Ilanga III, acting commanding officer of 62nd IB. (PIA Negros Oriental)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) of Negros Oriental has passed a resolution pushing for the province to be granted Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status. 

The proposal  was made upon the recommendation of Philippine Army 302nd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, who cited the dismantling of all guerrilla fronts operating in the province and the absence of major violence and incidents perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA) as the significant factors for the declaration of SIPS. 

Escanillas added that this is a key factor in boosting the local tourism industry as well as encouraging business entrepreneurs to venture and attain sustainable progress. 

He explained that declaring a state of SIPS does not mean the province is insurgency-free, as there are still remnants of the guerilla fronts who will be the subject of relentless focused military operations.

The Army official assured that troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines assigned to the province would not be pulled out after the declaration.

“We will still cooperate to maintain the peace and order, especially in the sitios because they are most vulnerable and it is where the recruitment started by the communist terrorist groups,  particularly in the GIDAS or geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas,” explained Escanillas. 

What is SIPS?

Provinces that have been declared in a state of SIPS are considered cleared, unaffected by communist insurgents and relatively peaceful. 

At the local government unit level, the peace and order council recommends the declaration of SIPS for adoption by the city or municipal council.

The mayor, Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Army have to pass a joint resolution formally declaring the SIPS in the locality.

The SIPS status in a locality would attract investments, generate jobs, and bring more opportunities to its people.

Welcome development for biz sector

Edward Du, president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed the move, saying that this will have a positive impact on the business sector.

“For us in the business sector, this has been a dream because ever since, the province has been perceived as not peaceful. We are hopeful that with the move for this SIPS, more investors will come to the province,” said Du.

He expects that future investors in the Tamlang Valley Sustainable Agriculture for Growth and Resiliency Project (TVSAGRP), business process outsourcing, hotels, and the agriculture sector will be encouraged to do business in the province.

TVSAGRP aims to boost agricultural productivity, promote food security, and address insurgency and social inequalities in the province. 

It is expected to be implemented this year with an initial budget of over P1.4 billion to be taken from the general fund of the regional line government agencies involved in the project. 

Tamlang Valley, which encompasses the shared borders of the towns of Sta. Catalina, Siaton, Valencia, and Sibulan, was once known as “no man’s land” at the height of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) insurgency in the late 1980s up to the early 1990s. 

Dismantling of CPP-NPA

The Philippine Army reported that five guerilla fronts of the CPP-NPA have already been dismantled, resulting in the reduction of their manpower, firearms, and influence in the barangays. 

SIPS status is one of the criteria for an area to be declared an insurgency-free community.

Escanillas added that the declaration of a state of SIPS also aims to acknowledge the need to effectively counter the CTG-led terrorism that continues to manipulate and deceive innocent constituents who become victims.